gigapalooza

There are a lot of things I would consider to be worth £179.99. For instance a leather sofa sold to me in monthly instalments by a perma-tanned former member of Spandau Ballet, or a month’s rent on a no-bathroomed bedsit in Kensington. But standing tickets to see MGMT at Shepherds Bush Empire? I don’t think so. In a global recession not really understood by any, save the facts that one can no longer shop at Waitrose and Christmas will be courtesy of Argos, the belt tightening has begun and with the price of gigs skyrocketing the music industry could be in for some major changes.

There are a number of reasons as to why gig tickets are so flipping expensive in today’s world, (ticket prices in the US are rising faster than inflation itself don’t cha know). The first is due to something a Princeton University based Professor Krueger likes to call The Bowie Theory, I know right? How much more attention would you have paid in science if it incorporated names like that? In 2002 David Bowie aptly foreshadowed the current issues facing the music economy stating that ‘music itself is going to become like running water or electricity,’ a nod to the vast quantities of free and easily obtainable music available via the internet. With CD sales falling faster than Labour’s approval ratings the only way left for acts to make money are through live performances, hence the unreasonable hike in ticket prices. £160 plus £13 booking fee for aging leotard-fan Madonna anyone?

The other, more obvious reason behind the increasing prices of tickets is one that every music fan has been a victim of at some point; ticket touts. The invention of Ebay created a million amateur touts who leave gigs sold out in minutes with the tickets then being sold on for over double their face value. Although the creation of sites such as Scarletmist.com and Stoptout.com seek to combat the problem, they provide no guarantee as to the validity of the seller and in the case of Stoptout.com take a ten percent commission charge.

In this state of recession, students, putting aside the zero job prospects and lack of pensions we have to look forward to, have probably got the best deal. Everyone is losing money, but as we had none to begin with, we are hardly any worse off. However, given the society of lemmings that we are, one must follow suit, so cut back we will. And the solution? Scrap the corporate sponsored gigs. Are you really going to get any enjoyment out of watching Goldfrapp semi-pissed on watery beer, dancing next to Ken and Sarah from accounting? A full £28.50’s worth of enjoyment? No, so give up, downscale, move towards smaller venues with lesser known bands, at £5 entrance fees and cheap drinks what does it matter if the band are rubbish? At least you’ll know by the time they come around to play Brixton Academy, saving you a whole bundle of money. And who knows, through the dire sound systems and meagre crowds you might just find something actually worth listening to.